Positively Discriminating!
by D. Gander
News from two diverse Christian camps, regarding controversial new Bible editions, sounds a bit encouraging. It seems that both the Bible Society and American Catholic Bishops have been persuaded to resist new "inclusive language" versions (sometimes mistakenly called "translations") of the Bible.
So-called "inclusive language" has always seemed to me like an awkward, artificial and shallow contrivance. It's like a verbal version of the notorious "gender quota" in the politically-correct workplace, where one woman ditch-digger among a hoard of men would be treated like royalty by management in order to bring a more balanced, woman's perspective to the foundations of society (...or, at least, she could then ensure a balanced run-off from the foundations).
When our first ancestors were evicted from Eden, Adam was assigned a living by hard work, while Eve's burden centred around child-bearing. But even before the Fall, at the time of human Creation, Eve was called "wo-man" (in the original language of the Bible) because she was taken out of "man" (Genesis 2:23). She was originally created -brace yourself- to be a "suitable helper" for Adam (Gen.2:18,21). Not a competitor, but a complementary partner in the life God planned for them together. This is not an inferior situation except in the blind eyes of modern feminists who recreate woman in their image, as an independent. (In fact, St, Paul does recommend the single life, for men and women who are called to it, for their greater dedication to Christ - which is not the desire or intention of most modern "independents").
Referring to this original design for Adam and Eve, St. Paul for example offers "discriminating" advice for men and women in family life and in the Church (1 Cor.11:3,7-10; 14:33-36; 1 Tim.2:11-15), advice that is too often brushed aside in these times of worldly wisdom. Yes, man and woman are equal in the only real experience of "power & prestige" that counts: the power of the submission of Christ, and the prestige of His humility.
My mentor, Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir, used to say that the man is the head of the woman... but she is the heart!
And is one more "important" than the other, to our body? Do the head and heart not need each other, working together in unison, in their distinct roles? What kind of life do we live, if either fails?
News from two diverse Christian camps, regarding controversial new Bible editions, sounds a bit encouraging. It seems that both the Bible Society and American Catholic Bishops have been persuaded to resist new "inclusive language" versions (sometimes mistakenly called "translations") of the Bible.
So-called "inclusive language" has always seemed to me like an awkward, artificial and shallow contrivance. It's like a verbal version of the notorious "gender quota" in the politically-correct workplace, where one woman ditch-digger among a hoard of men would be treated like royalty by management in order to bring a more balanced, woman's perspective to the foundations of society (...or, at least, she could then ensure a balanced run-off from the foundations).
When our first ancestors were evicted from Eden, Adam was assigned a living by hard work, while Eve's burden centred around child-bearing. But even before the Fall, at the time of human Creation, Eve was called "wo-man" (in the original language of the Bible) because she was taken out of "man" (Genesis 2:23). She was originally created -brace yourself- to be a "suitable helper" for Adam (Gen.2:18,21). Not a competitor, but a complementary partner in the life God planned for them together. This is not an inferior situation except in the blind eyes of modern feminists who recreate woman in their image, as an independent. (In fact, St, Paul does recommend the single life, for men and women who are called to it, for their greater dedication to Christ - which is not the desire or intention of most modern "independents").
Referring to this original design for Adam and Eve, St. Paul for example offers "discriminating" advice for men and women in family life and in the Church (1 Cor.11:3,7-10; 14:33-36; 1 Tim.2:11-15), advice that is too often brushed aside in these times of worldly wisdom. Yes, man and woman are equal in the only real experience of "power & prestige" that counts: the power of the submission of Christ, and the prestige of His humility.
My mentor, Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir, used to say that the man is the head of the woman... but she is the heart!
And is one more "important" than the other, to our body? Do the head and heart not need each other, working together in unison, in their distinct roles? What kind of life do we live, if either fails?